BEAUMONT, Texas – After trailing by as many as 24 points midway through the second half, Lamar University rallied to within seven, but the University of the Pacific made its shots when it needed to hold on for the 74-65 victory Tuesday evening at the Montagne Center.
 
Junior Adam Hamilton paced the Cardinals' offense with 23 points – 19 of which came in the second half – on 10-of-13 (.769) shooting. Big Red was 23-of-58 (.397) from the field, but just 2-of-13 (.154) from three-point range and 17-of-29 (.586) at the stripe.
 
Hamilton was joined in double figures by freshmen Nate Calmese (11 points) and Yuto Yamanouchi (10 points).

The Cardinals held the edge on the glass with a 39-36 rebound advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds which led to 23 second-chance points. Yamanouchi led all players with 15 rebounds to record his second-straight double-double. Hamilton just missed a double-double with nine boards.
 
The Tigers were 28-of-57 (.491) from the field, including an 11-of-29 (.379) performance on three-pointers. Pacific was led by 15 points from Luke Avdalovic on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
The boys from the West Coast had a six-point lead midway through the first half before rattling 8-0 to take a 14-point lead. The advantage was 16 heading into the locker room. Pacific came out on the attack and pushed its lead to as many as 24 with 10:25 remaining in the second half before Big Red made its move.
 
The Cardinals responded to the 24-point deficit with a basket from Hamilton which sparked a 10-0 run trimming the deficit down to 14 points. After the visitors got the lead back to 17, the Cards responded with another run getting the deficit back to 10 with another Hamilton jumper in traffic.
 
Big Red kept its foot on the pedal getting the lead within three possessions following an offensive rebound and putback from Yamanouchi, but unfortunately the missed free throws throughout the contest would prove pivotal as the Cardinals simply ran out of time.
 
Tuesday's contest was the final game before Christmas for LU. The Cardinals will return to action Saturday, Dec. 31, when they open Southland Conference play against rival McNeese. The contest against the Cowboys is slated for a 4 p.m. tip off from the Montagne Center.